Towards simulation of the classroom learning experience: Virtual reality approach

This paper describes a software tool aimed to improve teaching effectiveness. The tool is utilizing virtual reality technologies such as OCULUS RIFT, Virtual reality helmet and Unity3D game engine in an attempt to simulate a virtual classroom experience. The tool focuses on offering an asynchronous distance learning experience to the students via a 3D application, which allow students to participate in lectures, ask questions to the virtual instructors and receive pre-stored or generated answers. The key difference between traditional approach such as written material or video lectures is the generation of feeling that the student is actually there, as well as the real time interaction between the virtual instructor and the students. The work was evaluated by a number of students who attended lectures of similar difficulty delivered via a HD video recording and the virtual reality system. The results showed that our proposed solution had higher effectiveness than the video recording and it was more joyful. These results increase our confident that this type of technologies can potentially dominate the educational industry in the near future.